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'Like Ronaldo going back to Man Utd': Fans react to 'embarrassing' Gatland appointment
The Welsh Rugby Union have made a bold call about 10 months out from the World Cup, as they confirmed Warren Gatland would replace Wayne Pivac as the head coach of Wales.
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Super coach Gatland etched his name into Welsh rugby folklore during his decorated first stint in charge of the team, where he guided Wales to two World Cup semi-finals and three Grand Slams.
New Zealand-born Gatland, who was also the head coach of the British and Irish Lions on three tours, is set to return to Wales for next year’s Six Nations and Rugby World Cup – and potentially beyond.
While Gatland boasts unparalleled experience in charge of the national team, this appointment may prove to be one of his toughest challenges yet considering the form Wales have been in.
After starting their season with an emphatic 29-7 loss against Ireland in Dublin, Cymru went on to place second last in this year’s Six Nations – which included a thrilling loss to Italy.
While they were able to win one of their three July internationals in South Africa against the reigning World Cup champions, Wales struggled to maintain any momentum during the Autumn Nations Series.
The All Blacks seemed to turn their form around with a dominant display against Wales in Cardiff, and while the men in red bounced back with a seven-point win over Argentina, they finished their year with two disastrous losses.
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After a shocking 12-13 loss to Georgia in Cardiff, Wales squandered a 21-point lead against the Wallabies the following weekend.
While the prodigal son in Gatland has returned to lead Wales’ resurgence ahead of the World Cup, some fans on Twitter have expressed why they aren’t so sure that it’s the right move.
This is going to be like Ronaldo going back to Man Utd…. it’s not going to be the dream fairytale everybody hopes it will be 😅
— Leighton 🏴🇰🇷🏴🇰🇷 (@Leightongreat) December 5, 2022
The problem for Wales is all their great players are over the hill. And very little equivalent talent coming through
— Brian Flynn (@Iagodicomo) December 5, 2022
Not going to make a big difference, not got the player depth or ability to compete at top level imo. Bigger structural shake up needed than having a new coach. Hope i’m proved wrong but i just don’t see a new coach turning these players into world beaters.
— Tony Dudley (@TonyDudley5) December 5, 2022
Is going back ever a good thing?
Think of Regan King’s return to the Scarlets, Ronaldo to Man Utd and Thierry Henry to Arsenal.
Just saying.
— Alun Rees (@alunrees61) December 5, 2022
Difficult for Pivac, a season too far for some and others underperforming. Think Gatland may regret returning. But not sure WRU had many options.
— Gtg (@lazy_holidays) December 5, 2022
The Welsh rugby union determined to paper over the cracks for another little while I see, rather than address the problems at source. Embarrassing to see from such a proud rugby nation.
— jonathan o neill (@snookeramerica) December 5, 2022
The cracks will re-emerge.
— DRP (@DRP22108993) December 5, 2022
Good news for Chief Fans. Wales not looking forward. Can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.
— Jordan Bernarde (@Jordan_Bernarde) December 5, 2022
Well my Welsh Rugby cousins, how we feel.about this…think privac was unlucky with injuries to key players in aut.nearly a full team missing if not mistaken..WG will cause an initial reaction and wales with players back to do well in 6ns..but how do ye feel bout this long term??
— barry clarke (@killoebaz11) December 5, 2022
If he stays beyond the next 12 months of pure “firefighting” at Test pro level, will he have a mandate 2024-27 to involve himself in belatedly remedying the structural mess left over from 2003’s botched resource concentration at non-Test pro level…? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/spRdGUJ4sA
— GJPowell (@TheVietGwent) December 5, 2022
Wales’ final two Test matches of the year somewhat summed up where this team was heading a year out from the World Cup.
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Change was needed.
And while Gatland is always going to have his critics, a lot of supporters are backing him to help the proud rugby nation return to their former glory.
Last week wales were 25-1 to win next years 6 nations. I punted £25 quid on the off chance Gats came back…… that’s looking like a sound bet now!
— Owain Glynd?r (@IgtIan) December 5, 2022
The messiah returns pic.twitter.com/j5wZeSDpUp
— Grumpy Dumpty (@grumpy_dumpty1) December 5, 2022
We’re winning the world cup
— Liam (@liampag27) December 5, 2022
Great appointment but I feel we should have stayed with Pivac. We almost won a test series in South Africa and almost a grand slam in 2021. The squad is really good whoever is at the helm.
— PaulSimon (@DrPSW1) December 5, 2022
Great choice
— Anjela Galloway (@AnjelaGalloway) December 5, 2022
The king is back long, living the king
I’m so happy that Warren has come back.
Let’s hope everything all works out for him— darren watts (@dazwales240870) December 5, 2022
My wife predicted this a year ago: she’s just reminded me. I expect I will be reminded repeatedly.
— Steve Mallinson (@Steve_Mallinson) December 5, 2022
— Harry (@harrys_72) December 5, 2022
Wales are in Pool C along with familiar foes Australia and Fiji, who they went up against at the 2019 iteration of rugby’s biggest event.
The other two nations in the pool are Georgia and Portugal.
Comments on RugbyPass
“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
1 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
3 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
3 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
3 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to comments